"Next, make sure to choose
a place where other people
will see you. They will be
IMPRESSED! Buses,
libraries, schoolyards, and
parks are fantastic spots to
be seen reading a serious
book."
Readers open the first page to find two children; both engaged with the book each is reading. The covers are a gray tone, without any illustrations to invite a reader in. An unseen narrator is quick to opine that both books look BORING and HO-HUM. Questioning the readers about number of words and text size, the answers given are worthy of a hearty compliment.
"Well then! You are OBVIOUSLY reading some VERY SERIOUS BOOKS!
You should be proud."
Wanting the readers to show the world the earnest nature of the books being read, the narrator is willing to provide instructions. A stick-on mustache, glasses on the nose tip, and a pencil behind the ear should be remarkably convincing. The place for reading is also important ... a bus, the library, a schoolyard and a park are perfect choices. Be sure the nose is tucked inside, and try to show how invested a person can be in what is being read. Flip to each new page with a sweep of the hand.
Every child in the park is sure to notice the attention being paid to the reading, and to the laughter and exclamations for what the book is teaching. When the books are done, it's important to think about what has been read: time for a spot of tea to help with that 'pondering'. Then it's right back to the reading until a pair of rambunctious squirrels create chaos and reveal what the children have hidden inside the boring, gray covers. Their serious enjoyment of the books shown is evident, as is so for the narrator who happily joins them on their picnic blanket.
Kelly Collier fills the pages with graphic style panels in a book that pokes fun at those who think only serious books are what children should be reading. In fact, the final spread shows that kids should be reading what leaves them keen to read another.
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